2v2 Beach Volleyball: how it went (photos)

Hi I'm Deborah. This blog (or blag) features challenges and adventures from a local Michiganerd. I meant Michgander, not really a nerd - too athletic and interested in fashion.

Today's look:

Highlights from Diggin' in the Sand 2017 2v2 volleyball tournament! 😀😀😀

Our cool group (only a few ppl had left so this is most of us)

Go green😸 This photo captures our friendship in a nutshell - laughter. Whether its an inside joke, laughing at mistakes, or thinking of silly scenarios, GK and I bonded early over a shared sense of humor. 

We went to Kohl's the evening before in order to find some coordinating superhero shirt. But another top caught our eye and the fabric felt good to the touch.

Our stand back i'm going to try science shirts were the perfect shade of green to our liking, and the slogan couldn't fit us better as a team.

The initial practice crew, the Core Four, bout 2 weeks prior to the tourament. We were rooting for Andrew and Eric while they were making a title run from behind. They eventually lost to the final champs.

Était contente...oui et aussi j'ai fatiguée à ce moment qu'il prenait le photo. Mais bien suis contente. <3

Good team. One of many like digs. Top team, good chemistry (married).

This is captain america. Seriously, hello rodgers.

This is team captain America, the champs.

Lefty serve on the only girls vs guys match. It didn't end well but did progress in the second game a little better.

GK and his good guns.

First time at Tubby's, there for a light snack before afternoon 

elimation rounds.

The newlywed couple - a different kind of team ^_^

Action shot of our team strategy and set-up :) 

Pre-game coaching consisted of GK finding a useful article on sand volleyball and sending it to me. 

Serve shot that I like.

My other favorite group shot. And to think we kind of moaned at GK for insisting we look to our left instead of him coming around to face us. Duhhh.

Great shot of Andy's reach and spike.

Another top action shot showing a bit of Temmon's starfish form

This one makes me smile back.

I like the stark background and that my right hand is hidden so you can't see my wonky form.

Kapow

Cool

Good-looking shot of GK. Idk why exactly.

Team Green in action. I offered my teammate a PB and honey sandwich for breakfast and he asked what is PB? Peanut Butter. He thought it meant something else. That was a good breakfast.

A release that looks like it made it over, judging by the look on my face.

Highlights of the day: praying for GK over lunch, rooting for our core four underdogs, and relaxing as a group in the shade of the tents. Final highlight was probably the cool shower at the end of the day :-)

Things I discovered: 

Craig - home schooled k-12, and later I thought it likely his mom's name is Lori, which would put him in a family we knew wayyyy back if it is.

Caleb was the first home schooled k-12 in his fam, and it was by his choice

Oil needs to be checked on cars...I found out the hard way after leaving...and my car was 3 quarts low :O Fortunately its driving wayyy better now. Also checked the front brakes which are good too, just don't know where the squeak is coming from.

Thank you.

Until next adventure!

Minimalist Packer - 5 days

Hi there, my name is Deborah. You'll find here a library of articles documenting challenges and goals. Today, we circle back to one of my favorite nerdy subjects - minimalist packing.

Newest Challenger: Spirit and Frontier airlines
Anything bigger than 18x14x8" or so will cost $$, and you only get one bag free, no purses or diaper bags, no exceptions. (But I did find one loophole.)
Basically, the bag has to fit under the seat in front of you. End seats have less room underneath than middle seats, and I did not know where I would be assigned.

Duration: 4.5 days including travel, 4 nights

Activities: travel by plane/train/car, concert at Red Rocks, sleep, hike, and then wedding - a little more variety than usual

Weather Report for Denver: 60s, 70s, sunny, with a chance of pot clouds

Strategy: Pack my smaller, non-wrinkling items, wear the bulky stuff, and pick the right bag!

Bag: I could have used my Adidas sport bag because it's squishy and would fit, but I freaked last minute in case they really would make me check it, due to being very slightly oversize (17x10x10").
So I took my school tote after cleaning it out. Having packed the tote for a week in Richmond, I was confident it could handle less than that.
It is soft sided, approx. 12x13x4.5" or 702 cubic in. I took it as a way to avoid overpacking as well, since the Adidas bag offers significantly more space (1700 cubic in.).

This is the tote, a free giveaway from a medical conference mom went to years and years ago. Not used much until this past year when I dug it out and appropriated it for school. It's held up surprisingly well, but now is showing wear around the strap connection :(
Next to it, there's my travel-home wear - similar to the travel-there outfit. Striped, 3/4 sleeve top under black cat t-shirt; comfy sweater vest; paisley neutral scarf; pink jeans and belt; wool socks; Reebok lace-ups with extra gel insery.
All items were slightly mis-matched, but chosen for their warmth on the plane, relative bulk, and let's face it, the cleanest items left.

Highlights: As usual, the sheer mobility of one compact bag is almost unbelievable. As I stood at the luggage carousel with my friends who had traveled on the same flight, I mentally calculated how much luggage they might have brought. They were standing up in said wedding so I understood a reasonable amount of extra baggage was needed. I would be hard pressed to fit their beautiful (and somewhat voluminous) bridesmaid dresses in my little tote.
I had travelled with some vets who used to share a checked bag, and their trip would span 6-7 weeks abroad. By the same token, I expected common wedding or family items to be thrown in one bag as well - i.e. curling irons, blow dryers, hiking shoes, whatever. So when it turned out each member took both a carry-on and a checked bag, I was inwardly surprised. Maybe there was more stuff needed for the wedding than I could have anticipated.

Later, on the train, walking and making connections, and riding in my uncle's car, the bag retained its compactness and mobility. I only removed my clutch purse for the convenience of paying for things and holding my phone.

Contents: This might be expressed best with a photo and description:

From top left
- Wedding sheath, non-wrinkle, inside out, wrapped around 2 skirts, one dressy, one sporty (skort)
- Orange shoe bag holding the dressy but comfy Jambu sandals and doubling as my intimates laundry bag
- Round earbud/jewelry case (hard shell)
- Phone charge cord
- Toiletries and liquids (all travel sizing except for deodorant, tooth brush, and a few make-up items and that are full-size
- Boundaries hard cover book (great on the plane; by far a bulky luxury item to bring)
- Pajamas and bra
 (sheer long-johns and Victoria's Secret sleep shirt stuffed inside my sports bra to help sustain its shape)
- 2 belts (could have left at home) but did use each once
- Also tucked in the pile were my 2 extra t-shirts, extra bra, undies, and extra pair of socks
- Additional items included my suglasses, eyeglasses, pen and slim notebook, new testament and Psalms
- Not shown but also packed inside the bag, my pink burrito clutch purse

The one tiny loophole was discovered when I first boarded from Detroit. I purchased a bottle of water after security because I didn't think they'd let me through with a non-disposable bottle in my hand (large one), as if it should be in my bag or not allowed.
As it turns out, I walked on to the plane with the big disposable one no problem. It's a small thing that actually frees up a relevant amount of space and I would totally bring one next time (save the planet haha)

Borrowed: 

1.   My aunt's fleece jacket for when the concert grew chilly on the first and coldest night, out late nestled in the Red Rocks ampitheater (see above pic). My friend got a little chilly
2.   Earplugs for metal concert XD
3.   Washer and dryer, some detergent for a little spot washing when I sat on something at the concert

4.   A friend's messenger bag to carry water and extra layers on two hikes (see above pic)

Conclusion: The great weather and initial assistance of a washer and dryer at my uncle's house made this one bag trip a breeze. In addition, the compromise of less-dressy shoes for the wedding and my super easy sheath made the formal aspect a breeze (see pic below). Along the way, I borrowed a few items and used old ones in a new way - like hiking down a mountain path in the cool evening, wearing a sweater vest and paisley scarf! It shall become hiking mode de rigueur I'm sure.

Perfect timing to be the helping hands on this wedding cake project, and my comfy shoes to fly me around the kitchen in relative style

Sexy sweater vest and grandma glasses ^_^

Final note:
As this is my personal hobby, it retains more charm to keep it very quiet and nonchalant, rather than making mental or verbal comments that in any way indicate negativity towards others or pride in myself. As in every minimalist packing adventure, you can fit almost anything, but there's never room for pride. Still a work in progress. XP

Pensées de Gem Lake, Estes Park, CO